Hard feelings make for dumb politics

Kristy Nichols took on her first big challenge as the new state commissioner of administration when she sat down last week to explain to two legislative committees why they should out-source management of a state employee health insurance plan. She got off to an interesting start by telling the 30 or so senators and representatives, "I'd like to dumb down what we're here to talk about today and make it very simple for members."

It went south from there. Four hours later, after sharp questioning, heated exchanges and confusing motions, Nichols returned to the table to withdraw the item from the agenda. Her reason for doing so, according to a statement from her office, was to clear up questions about savings and voting procedure. But no one in the room was so dumb as to believe any explanation other than that the proposed contract, very simply, would have been rejected by House members had they voted on it.

Citizens who don't work for government may not see the problem with a private company administering a health insurance plan, since they deal with insurance companies already. But the proposed contract with Blue Cross is of great concern to state workers, teachers and retirees, who have flooded legislators' offices with calls to keep the state Office of Group Benefits managing their coverage.

Yet the controversy goes deeper to the deteriorating relationship between Gov. Bobby Jindal & Co. and state legislators, who complain that the administration does not involve them in policy matters and doesn't always shoot straight with them when it does.

It did not help that administration officials intended to ratify the contract without even asking for legislative approval, but an attorney general's opinion held otherwise.

"The elephant in the room is mistrust," said Louisiana School Board Association president Scott Richard, who was speaking for teachers, but whose sentiments are shared by a growing number of legislators.

The unraveling relationship between the branches of government, particularly in the House, was evident toward the end of the last session when the governor's plan to revamp the employee retirement system, including raising the retirement age and workers' payroll contributions, was strongly opposed and then abandoned. More tempers were frayed after the session when the governor, reacting to a decrease in federal funding, ordered the closure of a mental hospital and deep cuts to other hospitals without consulting legislators. Recently, Team Jindal was able to fend off an attempt by some lawmakers to convene a special session, but prospects are dim for the administration to pass anything substantial and controversial, such as the school voucher law, for the remainder of this term.

Some backtalk from Democrats and stray Republican back benchers is not uncommon, but the discontent appears to be infecting the leadership team. Among those questioning the credibility of administration officials on the insurance contract was Rep. Cameron Henry, R-Metairie, who was vice chairman of the Appropriations Committee until the next morning, when Speaker Chuck Kleckley booted him from the panel, along with another administration critic Rep. Joe Harrison, R-Napoleonville. A press release from the speaker's office attributed the move to a "better understanding of legislators' talents." Henry apparently lacked the ability to hold his tongue.

Jindal's office released a statement approving of the speaker's decision, but a press aide denied the governor played any role in it, which just added to what legislators don't believe.

The governor would have an easier time getting legislators to do what he wants if he treated them better than serfs. He could, for instance, give them a couple of days' notice, instead of a couple of hours before announcing closures and layoffs in their districts. But building personal relationships, the heart of politics, requires more time and effort than he seems willing to expend. Some would argue that he has more important things to attend to, such as making a four-day campaign swing for Mitt Romney last week.

Yet, how he conducts his political business these days could cause more stalemates with lawmakers, which opponents of the Blue Cross contract would not mind at all. If that also means three years of getting little done in the Legislature, however, that not only would be sad but also just plain dumb.

John Maginnis is an independent journalist who writes about Louisiana politics.

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Hard feelings make for dumb politics

Kristy Nichols took on her first big challenge as the new state commissioner of administration when she sat down last week to explain to two legislative committees why they should out-source